4 The HBCU Advocate Editorial


Will Your Vote Count, or Not? Te


incident is being investigated


as a hate crime. Te attacks seem to stem directly from the hateful rhetoric coming from a political group desperately trying to hold on to power. African Americans are not the


BY ANGELA JONES I oſten hear people, who are fed up


with politics, complain that they do not believe that their vote will count. My response is that there is only one way to know for sure if one’s vote will not count and that is if one does not vote. Te number of HBCU students who voted in 2012 declined by 10 percent in 2016 according to a Tuſts University study.


Tere are some people who believe


that things cannot get any worse. Te current President of the United States asked African Americans, “What do you have


to lose?” Unfortunately,


an African American man, age 69, shopping at a Kroger grocery store in Kentucky, and an African American woman, age 67, who was in the parking lot of the store, lost their lives at the hand of a European American assailant, recently. A witness saw the alleged perpetrator trying to enter a locked predominantly African American church minutes before he shot the two innocent victims at the grocery store.


only people who have been caught in the cross-hairs during the current administration. Recently, 11 victims were murdered while worshipping at a synagogue in Pittsburgh. If any group believes they are safe from the types of attacks that have happened or those that will happen if we continue down this dark road of divisiveness, they are sadly mistaken. Te increase in violent attacks on certain groups in America is a direct result of the hate-speech that is being spewed by individuals who are currently occupying a seat at the table of the highest levels of our government. Te only way we can counter


these hate-driven attacks is with our vote. Tat is why some people want us to believe that our votes will not count and that we “have nothing to lose.” We have everything to lose. We especially do not want to lose our country that our forefathers worked tirelessly to prepare for us. So many people suffered unspeakable hardships and pain to ensure that all Americans have the right to vote. Tey sacrificed so that we could live in “One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.” We should continue to cast our


vote for the best candidates who can make


the dream of


nation a reality. We owe that to the next generation. We must make our vote count for them.


an indivisible


Volume 2 Number 4


October/November 2018


McWilliams Delivers Keynote at Heart of A Woman Conference


Recently, Commissioner Jacqie


McWilliams served as the keynote speaker at the Heart of a Woman Conference (HOAW) which took place at the Charlotte Speedway Club @ the Charlotte Motor Speedway. Te event included a slate of powerful and influential women in the Charlotte region celebrating their personal and professional success with a goal of giving back to women in business. Te event included a morning


conversation with Grammy Award Winner Fantasia Barrino Taylor followed by an early morning plenary session entitled “Women Who Lead with a Purpose” l with a panel discussion led by strong women leaders in the region. A variety of breakout sessions throughout the day focusing on four experience tracks including professional development, entrepreneurship, life-style mind & body and industry. “Te gathering was a time to remind women of their power


through their heart to serve, lead and make a difference,” Commissioner McWilliams


said. “Our power


relies our natural ability to be our most authentic self to pursue our passion through our position. I was grateful to be part of this amazing upliſting, powerful and power-filled conference”. Te HOAW Conference


presented by the Women’s Business Center of Charlotte (WBCC), is a holistic conference empowering woman with the tools necessary to succeed in the various aspects of her life helping her to realize that she is not alone, but there are partners and resources available to her.


Te WBCC empowers women


with the tools needed to establish businesses, stabilize their companies, generate sustainable profits, strategize for future growth, and contribute in the growth and economic development of the community.


The HBCU Advocate


Angela Jones, Publisher Chris Parks, Editor


Rae Willis, Graphic Designer Ida Davis, Contributing Writer Sales and information info@thehbcuadvocate.com Copyright pertaining to contents of this edition. All rights reserved.


TheHBCUAdvocate.com Angela Jones Writer | Public Speaker | Historian


LET’S TALK ABOUT IT.


Call 757-575-1863.


Our PAST. Our PRESENT. Our FUTURE.


Need a speaker for your next event? Invite The HBCU Advocate's publisher. She covers topics such as Paying for College, Women's Empowerment, Health and Wellness, African American History and more. Contact us at 757.575.1863.


This Black History Month & Women’s History Month, book Hampton Roads Messenger Publisher, Angela Jones, for school, church, and corporate speaking engagements.


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16